Nashville Property Talk: Walkability

Neighborhood design has gone through several variations over the years. From sprawling neighborhoods with hundreds, even thousands of homes, to cloistered communities with fewer than 20 homes, you can find examples of all kinds of neighborhoods in any state. In metropolitan area, like greater Nashville, you are just a short drive from any number of different neighborhood designs. However, one of the most popular neighborhood features these days doesn’t require you to drive at all.

Walkable neighborhoods have had a resurrenge in recent years. Walkable neighborhoods are at the core of many sustainable urban design concepts & impact the environment in several positive ways. For homeowners who want to “go green”, a home with a high walkability rating is a great fit.

Walkable Neighborhoods: Benefits

The most obvious benefit to a walkable neighborhood is that it reduces the need to drive. Driving less means fewer emissions & less dependence on gas & oil. This decrease in automobile usage results in a lower carbon footprint for residents & the neighborhood.

Other benefits of a walkable neighborhood include increased activity, lower BMI (body mass index), & higher levels of social interaction among residents. Studies also point to reduced crime as a benefit, as residents tend to know each other better & be more active in the community. Wikipedia has several nice sources & additional information about walkable neighborhoods.

Walkable Neighborhoods & Traditional Neighborhood Development

Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) is a throwback to the early part of the 20th century. It was a time when neighborhoods were designed as communities. They had common ground in the center of the neighborhood & all homes were just a short walk from this common area. They also featured stores where you could get your daily household goods without having to saddle up, or in our case, get in the car. For additional information about Traditional Neighborhood Development, including a state-by-state list of TND qualified neighborhoods, visit tndtownpaper.com.

To find a walkable neighborhood in Nashville, call us today & we’ll help you start your search off on the right foot.